Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooking snack food pieces features a drum-type fryer which transports individual, die-cut piece preforms through hot oil contained within a cooking tank defined between the periphery of the drum and a housing in which the drum is contained. Vacuum transfer and feed rollers transfer the individual piece preforms from a die-cutting roller assembly onto the drum for cooking, and a similar roller transfers the cooked snack food pieces from the drum to a take-away conveyor for subsequent, downstream processing. The pieces are retained by suction against molding surfaces of frying mold elements distributed over the periphery of the frying drum.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the formation of food clusters by using a fingerwheel to break a bed of food product into clusters of a uniform size. After the food product, such as popcorn, and the coating that is placed on the product is mixed together, a bed of the mixture is formed. The bed is then forced through stationary fingers by the fingerwheel at an optimum temperature for forming clusters, thus breaking the bed into individual clusters. The average size of the clusters is determined by the spacing between the fingers on the fingerwheel and the stationary fingers when they are meshed together.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making uniformly shaped snack food chips which can be stacked for packaging, e.g., in a cylindrical canister or a canister which conforms to the contour or perimeter of the snack food chips. The apparatus features two-part mold cavities in which chip preforms are restrained and transported through hot oil to be cooked. Preferably, the mold cavities are defined between a pair of rotating belts, one lower belt and one upper belt, which together “encase” or “sandwich” and thereby restrain the chips. According to the method, a continuous sheet of dough is toasted and then proofed before being cut into individual chip preforms. The preforms are then placed into the mold cavities and transported through hot oil to be cooked. Vacuum transfer rollers are used to facilitate placement of the chip preforms into the mold cavities and extraction of the cooked chips from the mold cavities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking curved, triangular snack food chips, e.g., tortilla chips, for packaging in a sleeve-type container. The chips are fed into a first, U-shaped vibratory chute, which automatically causes the apex corners of the chips to extend beyond the opposing base edges of adjacent chips and which automatically orients the chips such that lines about which they are curved are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped chute. The chips are then fed into a W-shaped chute, with the chips facing in opposite directions falling automatically into opposite troughs of the W-shaped chute. The chips are then automatically reoriented by 120° such that their upturned apex corners point in the direction of travel, and the chips are stacked automatically as they slide up along one another in a shingled manner.

Abstract: A sheeter device capable of producing a full-width continuous sheet of masa. A series of ultrasonic horns are placed in close proximity to a sheeter roller, thereby scraping the sheeted dough from the roller. The ultrasonic vibration precludes the buildup of dough on the horns. The invention eliminates the need for sheeter wires and their accompanying plastic bands while increasing the dough throughput of the sheeter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooking snack food pieces features a drum-type fryer which transports individual, die-cut piece preforms through hot oil contained within a cooking tank defined between the periphery of the drum and a housing in which the drum is contained. Vacuum transfer and feed rollers transfer the individual piece preforms from a die-cutting roller assembly onto the drum for cooking, and a similar roller transfers the cooked snack food pieces from the drum to a take-away conveyor for subsequent, downstream processing. The pieces are retained by suction against molding surfaces of frying mold elements distributed over the periphery of the frying drum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making uniformly shaped snack food chips which can be stacked for packaging, e.g., in a cylindrical canister or a canister which conforms to the contour or perimeter of the snack food chips. The apparatus features two-part mold cavities in which chip preforms are restrained and transported through hot oil to be cooked. Preferably, the mold cavities are defined between a pair of rotating belts, one lower belt and one upper belt, which together “encase” or “sandwich” and thereby restrain the chips. According to the method, a continuous sheet of dough is toasted and then proofed before being cut into individual chip preforms. The preforms are then placed into the mold cavities and transported through hot oil to be cooked. Vacuum transfer rollers are used to facilitate placement of the chip preforms into the mold cavities and extraction of the cooked chips from the mold cavities.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for identifying a note that has been destroyed or dispensed. The apparatus and methods determine and record the image of the note just prior to or as the note is being engaged by shredding tines or a note feeder. The apparatus can be used in conjunction with an OCR system such that the serial code of each note destroyed or dispensed is determined automatically by the OCR system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking curved, triangular snack food chips, e.g., tortilla chips, for packaging in a sleeve-type container. The chips are fed into a first, U-shaped vibratory chute, which automatically causes the apex corners of the chips to extend beyond the opposing base edges of adjacent chips and which automatically orients the chips such that lines about which they are curved are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped chute. The chips are then fed into a W-shaped chute, with the chips facing in opposite directions falling automatically into opposite troughs of the W-shaped chute. The chips are then automatically reoriented by 120° such that their upturned apex corners point in the direction of travel, and the chips are stacked automatically as they slide up along one another in a shingled manner.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the distribution of product items over a manufacturing line, in particular, for controlling the distribution of potato slices across the width of a fryer in a commercial potato chip manufacturing process, includes a number of sensors for measuring the moisture content of potato chips exiting the frying and a controller for determining whether a moisture content variation state exists that should be corrected. A number of rotatable flume distributors are provided which are controlled by the controller in accordance with position adjustment values in a look-up table corresponding to detected moisture content variations. The flume distributors are then adjusted to modify the distribution of potato slices across the fryer to reduce or eliminate the variation in moisture content of the chips leaving the fryer.

Abstract: Olestra, a low-calorie natural fat and oil substitute, that is normally a viscous semi-solid at ambient temperatures is rendered substantially permanently liquid and pumpable by application of shear mixing from the semi-solid state, slow cooling from the melted state, or shear mixing and slow cooling from the melted state. Slow cooling inhibits the formation of the crystalline network that is characteristic of the viscous semi-solid form, and shear mixing further inhibits such formation. Olestra processed according to the invention advantageously returns to the semi-solid form after use in snack food manufacturing, thus providing the desired passive oil loss control. The invention greatly improves the practical handling of Olestra in fried food manufacturing processes.